LooFinder
Submitted by: Angie Porter
Describe your idea. How does it work and who does it help?
Just text your location ("postcode" or "street name") to a free call number or visit the website. You will get an answer giving you information about the nearest public toilet.
This information service provides the location, map, opening hours and facilities available at the toilet.
Alternativly people can visit the website and put in "postcode" or "street name" get the same information.
This idea especially helps older people and parents with children where difficulty finding a toilet can be very stressful.
It would also help the many festival and concerts goers visiting Tower Hamlets.
Generally LooFinder would make the streets a more relaxing place to be, knowing that wherever you are in Tower Hamlets, you could always find a toilet when you need to go.
What information or services do you need?
Information about public toilets in Tower Hamlets including location, map, opening hours and facilities available at the toilet.
Also, Map data (google maps).
Posted by Jonny on 12 November 2008 at 02:30 PM
All, we were a bi late to the game in the big competition; but we've blown away the competition when it comes to the age old question, "Where is the Toilet?".
SitOrSquat is available on the iPhone, Blackberry and web and is far and away the best option to find a place to go. It's been open for 23 days and had near 45000 toilet submissions thru out the world. Checkit out: http://www.sitorsquat.com
Posted by robert fair on 11 November 2008 at 01:33 PM
There are a number of local authority websites that have locations of public toilets. The issue is not with the technology but with the licensing of gis maps and the access to the datasets held by local authorities. IF the government were to allow access to individual local authority datasets and to make it COMPULSORY that the datasets are kep upto date then a system would work.
Posted by Andy Key on 10 November 2008 at 03:46 PM
Re. Anthony Cartmell's idea of an annual "best loo" award - one already exists and has done for 20 years: the Loo of the Year Awards, run by the British Toilet Association. See http://www.loo.co.uk/ . I am not making this up...
Posted by Anthony Cartmell on 23 September 2008 at 01:04 PM
This should be national, and user-editable like a Wiki. Data should include location and opening hours, plus user ratings. Also include any entry fees, and whether loo is fully public or private (e.g. in a pub or cafe).
Would be very interesting to see the density and quality of public loos in different areas of the country. Perhaps an annual "best loo" and "best authority" award?
Posted by James Munro on 16 September 2008 at 09:59 PM
I agree - a great idea and SatLav is a great name! Westminster's service is impressive.
I'm in favour of a bottom up (sorry) approach to data population - people need to be able to add in toilets in department stores, stations and the like. Otherwise, in many towns and cities the nearest public toilet will be miles away.
And make sure the site/SMS tells you if you need 20p.
Posted by Richard on 16 September 2008 at 09:47 AM
Angie: Do you mean something like this?
http://www.westminster.gov.uk/environment/streetcareandcleaning/satlav.cfm
Posted by David Durant on 12 September 2008 at 11:04 AM
I think this is a great idea. Another alternative would be a layer for Google Maps if the person has a phone capable of using the internet.
The question of course is does it just show public loos and not other possible alternatives (pubs for example) and can people add new entires or is it limited to some kind of top-down data maintenance.